Break Free From Fibromyalgia

The muscle pain, insomnia, brain fog, and fatigue of fibromyalgia can happen to anyone – especially when you are constantly stressed and required to spend more energy than your body can create. This can include physical stresses such as infections, sleep disorders, hormonal deficiencies, and pregnancies. It can also be caused by situational stresses such as a divorce, a death in the family, or a job loss. Often it is caused by a combination of physical and situational stresses.

But even after a stressful situation appears to have been resolved, pain and dysfunction can linger. This is like tripping a circuit breaker in your home by plugging in too many appliances. The breaker needs to be reset even after you've unplugged them. The circuit breaker in fibromyalgia is called the hypothalamus, an almond sized control center in the brain that regulates sleep, hormones, and autonomic functions like blood pressure and gut activity.

Finding a way to overcome fibromyalgia can be a challenge, as most physicians are simply not trained in treating the illness. But effective treatment is available.

Here's how to get well.

I have been working with people who suffer from fibromyalgia (FM) or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) my entire professional life. Having had these myself (they knocked me out of medical school and left me homeless for a year, until I figured out how to recover) I have dedicated the last 40 years to researching this illness and making effective treatment available for everybody.

From these explorations came a health protocol that I've called "SHINE®." Our published double-blind placebo-controlled study showed that 91 percent of people improved with an average 90 percent increase in quality of life (a remarkable P < .0001 versus placebo, for those that are statistics oriented) This acronym refers to the essentials of what is needed to begin a path toward healing (See details of the SHINE protocol on page 2).

Additionally, there are some nutrients and botanicals that have proven results in addressing the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Curcumin for Pain Relief

Curcumin from turmeric has been shown in numerous studies to effectively relieve pain.

In a double-blind crossover trial, participants started taking curcumin 2 days before a physical workout and continued for 3 days after. Those taking curcumin noted moderate to large reductions in pain and slightly increased performance (due to the pain reduction). The exercises included gluteal stretches, squat jumps, and single-leg jumps, to get in a variety of controlled movements to replicate the wide range of motions that can cause pain during a workout.
Another recent study looked at the effects of curcumin for adult recreational cyclists. While the physical parameters were harder to judge statistically, participants in the curcumin group reported feeling "better than usual" and less stressed in the training days – 2 hours of endurance cycling – versus those taking placebo – even though the sessions were the same for both groups.

The pain score in the curcumin group was 17 percent lower compared to the placebo group, and there was less incidence of muscle injury in MRI. Not surprisingly, markers of inflammation and muscle damage tended to be lower in the curcumin group following exercise as well.

Constant stress erodes the ability of the body to produce a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF helps create neurons (important cells in the brain and nervous system) and maintains the existing ones. Aside from that, BDNF is an essential element for brain plasticity (how the brain adapts and learns), and other major functions. BDNF is generally deficient in those with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases, and issues with the gene for BDNF can also be a component of depression, anxiety, and memory deficits. Curcumin has been shown to significantly increase BDNF after even a short period of use.

Curcumin helps circumvent the conditions of stress by protecting BDNF levels and reducing the stress response. It can help you overcome the fatigue, anxiety, and pain so common to fibromyalgia and help you recapture emotional and physical resilience you need to get back on track.

Some researchers have noted connections between rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. Curcumin, specifically the curcumin I recommend, has been shown to address that condition, too.

A clinical study focused on the effects of 500 mg twice daily of an enhanced absorption curcumin combined with turmeric essential oil versus the prescription drug diclofenac sodium (one brand name is Voltaren®) 50 mg twice daily, or a combination of the two in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The curcumin group had the best results – the most reduction in joint pain and swelling
– and no adverse effects. By contrast, 14 percent of the participants in the drug group stopped the test due to side effects.

Turmerones – Anti-Inflammatory

The curcumin I recommend is blended with turmeric essential oil, which helps increase absorption. Turmeric essential oil contains turmerones (specifically ar-turmerone) which have actions similar to curcumin. In fact, turmerones are a major area of study and research because they have such strong anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer power.

Additionally, turmerones have been found to increase superoxide dismutase and glutathione levels – natural antioxidants produced by the body that have incredible cell-protecting power and could be considered "fountains of youth" for their abilities to keep us healthy regardless of age.

For cognitive health, ar-turmerone may provide a huge advantage. Research shows that it suppresses beta amyloid, responsible for the plaques and tangles in the brain that stop neural connections, and inhibits the inflammatory cytokines and pathways that cause damage to the brain. In other words, it may help prevent Alzheimer's.

This is primarily due to the ability of turmerones to stop inflammatory cascades in the brain. I don't think I could ever overemphasize just much how inflammation drives our diseases, including the fatigue and accompanying brain fog of fibromyalgia.

Boswellia – Reduce Pain and Inflammaton

Unlike conventional drugs, which usually target only a single molecular pathway, boswellia affects multiple pathways in the body. But one of its most important benefits is probably its ability to modulate a particular inflammation pathway called the 5-LOX (5-lipoxygenase) pathway, which leads to significant reduction in inflammation and pain throughout the body.

Combined with curcumin, boswellia has been shown to relieve osteoarthritis pain better than prescription drugs: 64 percent in the herbal group versus 29 percent in the drug group saw a dramatic improvement.

And because boswellia inhibits proinflammatory cytokines, it doesn't just stop pain, it stops the actual damage in joints and muscles.
Choosing the right boswellia is critical. Like many botanicals, boswellia contains specific compounds that are associated with the herb's beneficial effects. One of boswellia's most powerfulcomponents is acetyl-11-keto-B-boswellic acid, popularly known as AKBA. In fact, in most boswellia research, AKBA is cited as a primary reason the extract works so well to relieve pain and inflammation, treat respiratory conditions, and may even protect the brain against stroke.

Unstandardized boswellia can have as little as one percent AKBA. For the best efficacy, it is important to have a minimum of 10% AKBA plus other helpful boswellic acids.

Unfortunately, one of the naturally-occurring compounds in boswellia – beta-boswellic acid – is actually pro-inflammatory. Leaving beta-boswellic acid at its natural levels as you'd find in unstandardized extracts can mean that up to 25 percent of the herb would have an inflammation-causing effect.

A balanced approach is best. The boswellia extract I recommend is standardized so that you're getting at least 10 percent AKBA and virtually no beta-boswellic acids. This way, you get a true, complete boswellia with all of the good components you need (but not at artificially high levels) with none of the potentially dangerous amounts of beta- boswellic acid.

Frankincense – Balance Cortisol Levels

Another natural medicine from boswellia is frankincense oil. It is the subject of intensive scientific study for a variety of health applications.

While frankincense oil and boswellia extract have many similar attributes – and in fact the names are often used interchangeably – scientific research with constituents of frankincense oil shows that it may balance cortisol levels and boost BDNF, the same brain protein that curcumin preserves. So aside from being an anti-inflammatory, frankincense can regulate the HPA axis in a way that prevents stress, anxiety, and emotional fatigue from taking hold.

Protein Is Essential

Although we hear more about high protein diets now than we used to, you may be surprised that the need for highly absorbable, bioactive protein – like whey protein – is still a requirement for optimal energy, pain relief, muscle retention, and any type of physical activity and fast recovery. That's why I always recommend a high quality protein supplement for anyone with FM/CFS. Whey is a good choice, especially when it contains both the isolate and concentrate forms.

Protein helps stabilize blood sugar levels and provides a reliable energy source for you throughout the day. One of the reasons that whey protein is a preferred choice is that it is a complete source of amino acids – the building blocks of the cells throughout the body, including the muscles, nerves, and brain.

Whey protein has been shown to boost lean muscle mass, reduce inflammation, and help increase strength, especially in individuals who have lost some of their former muscle tone through inactivity or illness, including rheumatoid arthritis. I have seen the difference that whey protein can make in individuals with FM/CFS, and I believe you will notice a difference once you incorporate it into your daily regimen. Look for a whey protein that provides both concentrate and isolate forms, combined with pain-fighting curcumin and boswellia.

You Can Overcome Fibromyalgia

I know from personal experience that FM/CFS are frustrating conditions. It's not unusual for people to try many approaches before discovering the one the works best for them.

But don't give in to despair and hopelessness. The start of the road back to better health is found in the proper application of clinically- validated nutrients and botanicals, a review of the SHINE® protocol, and sensible exercise. Activity is critical for a mentally and physically healthy life and outlook, and will be much easier to do once your energy levels increase with treatment!

I have treated thousands of people with this illness, and I do both in-person and phone consultations with people worldwide. (See contact information in bio.) Research and clinical experience have shown that 85 percent of people improve significantly, and usually markedly, with the proper treatment.

The bottom line is that you can get your life back!

Curcumin, boswellia, turmeric essential oil, and frankincense oil promote your health – they don't just block an unwanted condition. All of these botanicals reduce the oxidative stresses and inflammation at a cellular level and heal muscle damage, stop pain, and help you feel re-energized. You owe it to yourself to explore these natural ingredients for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. I think they could make a world of difference and help you feel physically and mentally vibrant again.

Terry's Bottom Line

Fibromyalgia is characterized by widespread pain throughout the body (with certain tender points where pain is especially acute), fatigue, brain
fog, mood imbalances, and sleep disorders. It can be notoriously difficult for people to find a practitioner who can correctly diagnose and treat it, but once you do, treatment can be very effective, if one uses a comprehensive medicine approach.